With summer right around the corner, a lot of us are starting to think about getting in shape and trying to lose weight before swimsuit season arrives. Going on crash diets will help you lose weight fast, but as soon as the diet stops, the person ends up putting back on the weight twice as fast. So, if you are looking to lose weight in the soonest time possible without all the gimmicks and false promises of a crash diet, then here are 5 simple and doable tips for you to lose weight quickly and healthily.
1. Eat Fewer Carbs And Increase Protein Intake
You can lose weight very quickly by opting for a low-carb diet even for just a week. Eating fewer carbs reduces water weight and bloating. While it is an effective way to lose weight, make sure that you do not cut out carbs entirely. This will leave you feeling exhausted, as you need carbs as a soon of energy. Instead of eating starchy carbs such as white bread or white rice, opt for wholewheat bread and brown rice as these have more fibre which is good for your bowel movements and will also keep you fuller for longer.
Replace your carbohydrate intake with an increased intake of protein. This will help boost your metabolism while also keeping your hunger levels at bay. High protein foods include white meats, eggs, fish, nuts, and oats. There are plenty of foods and recipes that you can get creative with so that you can sustain the low carb and high protein diet.
2. Enter A Calorie Deficit
To lose weight you have to enter a calorie deficit, what this means is that you have to consume fewer calories than you burn in a day. For example, if you burn 2000 calories a day, then you could consume 1800 calories a day. However, if you are wanting to lose weight faster, then you could either burn more calories in a day or consume less. Often the hardest part is starting, and if you feel this way then you should consider using online guides such as https://kariencsn.co.za/ to help get you going.
The most effective way for fast results is a combination of both, so increasing calories burned and decreasing consumption. For example, aiming to burn 2200 calories while eating 1600 calories a day. Do not enter an unrealistic deficit, as you are likely to fail which tends to result in feeling defeated and binging instead. Make sure you are realistic and can maintain your deficit.
3. Do Strength Training And Interval Training
Doing a combination of strength training and interval training is a great way to speed up the process of weight loss. Strength training has several benefits including increasing muscle mass, weight loss, increase in strength, and the more muscle you have the more calories your body burns. Even after a strength training session, your body is burning calories as it works hard to repair the micro-tears that occur in the tissue of the muscle. This is called the afterburn effect and is very useful when it comes to weight loss.
However, you do not want to focus solely on resistance training and instead, you should incorporate interval training into your exercise regime. Research has found that a mere 5 to 10 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) promotes weight loss five times more than standard cardiovascular exercises. Additionally, it reduces carb stores and boosts your metabolism.
Keep things interesting and do a variety of exercises that work the whole body and keep your brain engaged in the exercises. After all, half the battle is maintaining a mindset that is determined to lose weight.
4. Walk More
This point is nice and simple, all you have to do is increase the amount you walk. The British Health Foundation recommends walking 10,000 steps a day to keep your heart healthy. So, where possible, walk instead of catching the bus or driving! Making little changes can make a huge difference and walking is a great form of cardiovascular exercise. Increasing the amount you walk will burn extra calories outside of the gym.
5. Get Enough Sleep
Sleeping less than seven hours a night has been linked with weight gain and obesity. It might sound strange to some of you that sleep can have such an impact, but how much you sleep plays a prominent role in weight loss/gain. This is down to the fact that inadequate sleep can increase your cravings for higher-calorie foods while decreasing your ability to fight off those cravings. Alongside this, research has demonstrated that when you are sleep-deprived, your body produces more ghrelin and less leptin (your appetite hormones). Consequently, this might lead to you overeating. So, ensure that you are getting enough rest and the recommended amount of sleep as this will help you lose weight and maintain diets and exercise regimes.
There you have it, five simple and doable tips that will help you lose weight in the soonest time possible. Remember, be kind to yourself and only do what you are comfortable doing, otherwise, you will never be able to maintain it.